681 Unveiling the Secrets of the Chapel

Ren's eyes shifted to the rigged door leading back to the Prayer Room. The chimes attached to the door were a clear indicator of the trap's activation. 

This trap was activated in two parts. As soon as a creature entered the room, the alarm activated, telepathically alerting Salister Kane and any of his minions currently in the chapel.

Two rounds after the alarm activates, the trap spews forth a powerful, magical contagion.

All creatures within a 15-ft. radius of the room's center contract [Magic Phage]. While infected, creatures would suffer a reduction in INT.

Ren studied the intricate trap mechanism, his mind racing to devise a plan. With a swift motion, he gestured for the others to stay back.

"What's happening, Ren?" Princess Lorelai inquired, her voice calm amidst the tension.

Ren explained, his tone even, "There's a trap here. If triggered, it inflicts a Magical Phage that would decrease our INT, lasting for a day. We can't afford to face Salister Kane in our weakened state. We need to disarm it."

Princess Lorelai wasn't perturbed and suggested, "Can't we just destroy that thing?"

Her solution to everything was destroying it, apparently. Ren thought, then shook his head. "It's too late. We likely triggered it the moment we entered this room."

Eager to escape the danger, Evie proposed, "Let's return to the Prayer Room." She moved to open the door, only to find it locked.

In response, Princess Lorelai acted swiftly. With astonishing strength, she shattered the door into pieces with her bare hands. The force of her action sent a shockwave through the room, nearly toppling Evie over.

Gasping, Evie managed to muster a weak protest, "Next time, could you please warn me before doing that?"

Instead of offering an apology, Princess Lorelai burst into laughter. "Don't worry, I have complete control over my strength. I know you won't be harmed."

Evie stared at her with a deadpan expression. "True, I won't be harmed, but you might give me a heart attack with your sudden door-breaking talents."

The princess continued to chuckle, but her laughter subsided abruptly when they realized the door they thought was destroyed was miraculously intact again. 

In its place stood a new door, seemingly conjured out of thin air.

"What is this?" Elena's eyes widened in surprise. "Could it be some kind of spell?"

"No spell can affect me!" Princess Lorelai huffed and attempted to destroy the door again. 

To their astonishment, a new door materialized each time, mocking her efforts.

While the princess was occupied with her door-destroying spree, Ren focused his attention on the trap mechanism, his analytical mind at work.

Seeing the futility of the princess's attempts, Elena decided, "I'll create a barrier to shield us from the disease."

"Hold your mana," Ren advised. "Let me try to disarm it first."

With meticulous precision, Ren examined the trap, his fingers tracing the patterns. Utilizing his [Wand of Erasing], he erased the symbols guided by his [Appraisal] skill, effectively neutralizing the trap.

"It's safe now," he announced to the group.

"Really?" Both Evie and Elena questioned in unison.

Ren nodded. 

Princess Lorelai smiled approvingly, her trust in Ren increasing. 

However, her frustration got the better of her, and she destroyed the door once again.

"Could you please refrain from doing that?" Ren sighed, his patience wearing thin. "We're trapped in here. Instead, let's search for the teleportation device that will take us to the second level. It must be hidden within this room."

"Second level?" Elena glanced around the chapel, her confusion evident. "But isn't this just a one-story chapel with a high ceiling?"

Ren stepped forward, addressing Princess Lorelai. "Princess, if you would be so kind. I believe your magical abilities are potent enough to dispel whatever illusion is protecting this place."

Princess Lorelai halted her door-smashing activities, her eyes widening in surprise. "There's an illusion?"

Ren nodded. "Yes. It's incredibly subtle, almost undetectable, even for someone of your power." 

The truth was, this illusion was carefully designed, hidden so expertly that even the most astute players wouldn't notice it until they had gathered enough information, revealing the existence of an additional floor within the chapel and Salister's use of powerful illusion magic.

The next challenge lay in how to dispel the illusion and expose the elevator leading to the concealed second floor.

Ren continued, "No White Mage, cleric, priest, ascetic, or luminier could penetrate this kind of powerful illusion spell. Only a Radiant or a Priestess possesses the necessary abilities.

"But Princess Lorelai, you undoubtedly possess the skill to break this illusion," Ren said confidently. "Once you use your dispelling magic, everything will be revealed here."

"I do?" Princess Lorelai blinked before she cleared her throat. "I mean, of course, I do. Ahahahaha."

"Are we going to be alright?" Elena muttered under her breath with a wry smile.

Princess Lorelai stepped forward at Ren's words. The room fell silent, the weight of anticipation hanging in the air. 

She extended her hands, palms glowing with a radiant, otherworldly light, fingers tracing complex sigils in the air. The soft hum of ancient incantations filled the chapel, resonating with the very stones beneath their feet.

Her magic, pure and unyielding, flowed outward, wrapping around the chapel like a gentle wind. Slowly, the illusion that had veiled the chapel began to unravel. 

It started as a subtle distortion, like ripples on the surface of the water, then grew into a shimmering, translucent veil that danced and flickered before their eyes.

With each gesture, Princess Lorelai dispelled the illusion, revealing the hidden secrets of the chapel. 

Shadows fled from her light, dissipating like smoke in a gust of wind. The once grandiose appearance of the chapel faded, and in its place emerged the true form –– a dark, foreboding space that had been concealed from sight.

The walls, once adorned with the semblance of celestial beauty, now revealed intricate, cryptic symbols etched in ancient stone. 

The atmosphere shifted, thickening with an ominous energy that seemed to seep from the very walls, bearing the weight of untold secrets.

As the illusion waned, the hidden second story came into view, together with the elevator to reach the second floor known as the Dark Side.